Brooklynn's First Movie Night at Home

Brooklynn had never watched a real "movie" at home before. Just cartoons and mini-series we had borrowed from the library. 

Well we decided she was ready and it was time. We invited over her friend Audrey and they watched Audrey's movie Tinker Bell And The Lost Treasure together while eating popcorn and M&M's in there P.J.'s.

Brooklynn tells me all the time that Princess Tiana is her favorite princess. All we have is a 5 page bath book call something like Princess Have Good Manners. None the less she is obsessed with princess and everything sparkly. So I put in a hold request for The Princess and the Frog movie at the library (all 8 were checked out...must be good). I'm not excited about feeding into her obsession with princess but we have done all we can to avoid princess and it did not matter she "loves" them anyway.  I'm sure I can find a great way to turn her love for princesses into a great way to teach her.

Brooklynn told me she wants to be a princess for Halloween. We went on-line and looked at princess costumes/dresses. Nothing sparked her fancy until I went to a website that had non-traditional Halloween costumes and she found one she fell in love with...all $135 of it. Nothing like I was thinking. I don't think people will even know she is a princess. But my girl will feel like a beautiful princess. I would never consider spending $135 on a Halloween costume for one of my kids so I'll be making her a knock-off in the next couple of weeks.

First Day of Preschool at TCCP

Brooklynn started preschool at Traverse City Cooperative Preschool TCCP two weeks ago (September 20, 2011). I was thinking I was going to have a hard time and probably cry when I dropped my first baby off at preschool. However, Brooklynn was so excited and not nervous at all that she made it easy for her Momma :) 

Dad was able to stay home in the morning to make sure everything went smooth and to help with Emmett if needed when we got to her preschool. Brooklynn wanted her Daddy to take her to her first day of Preschool so he took her car seat out of my truck and put it into his car for the 10 minute drive to TCCP then put it back into my truck all with a big smile.  

Although Brooklynn did not need us to I wanted to stay for a few minutes and just watch. Normally the Preschoolers would play for 8-10 minutes when they first arrive at school but because so many parents did come and want to watch that they started circle time right away for the first day. I was really glad that Todd was there because Emmett started to fuss and needed to be removed from the building. Todd and Emmett stepped out so I was able to watch Brooklynn have a great time at her first circle time experience. I stayed for about 15 minutes. I waited for Brooklynn to look up at me and when she did I waved goodbye. She waved and turned immediately back to pay attention to her new teacher.

I think this next picture should be her official first day of preschool photo..
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Getting ready for circle time...







After her first day of Preschool...

I let Brooklynn pick out her outfit for the first day of preschool (well I would have stepped in had I needed too) and she picked this outfit which I love. It's a plain cheap dress that we added a ribbon and flower too to make it special.

I was a volunteer at TCCP on Brooklynn's second day of preschool. I was in charge of helping the preschoolers with their art project. It was fun to get to spend the entire morning with Brooklynn at school. The preschools get to do show and tell on there special day when they bring there Mommy with them to help at school. She was pretty shy but it was cute.

Here is the art project we did together on my volunteer day... we stamped apples into red and yellow paint.

God says that the education of children is a 24-hour-a-day, 7-day-a-week process that must take place from birth through maturity. We're glad that we have TCCP and Mrs. Callighan to help us.

Trip to our families favorite beach in Empire

Preschool Starts Tomorrow for Brooklynn

Brooklynn starts preschool tomorrow at Traverse City Cooperative Preschool. TCCP has a play-based curriculum which we wanted for Brooklynn. We mostly picked the preschool based on the teacher so we were shocked and upset when she announced her retirement. I looked back at the local preschools again and realized that TCCP was still our first choice of preschools. Their philosophy is based on the belief that parents play an integral role in their child’s educational experience...me too!!



TCCP was great about getting Brooklynn ready to attend preschool. They had two open houses. At the second one the teacher put on a puppet show for the kids and they served snacks. Its hard to see Brooklynn in this picture but she is snuggled up with Clifford on the right.

TCCP also put on an ice cream social so the kids could meet their class mates...Brooklynn is in the Tuesday Thursday morning class with 15 other 3 year olds. While at the ice cream social Brooklynns teacher Mrs. Callighan put on another puppet show, gave them a queen puppet and the kids enjoyed Moomers ice cream and played on the playground.

Brooklynn also got to do a one-on-one meet your teacher conference with Mrs. Callighan.  Mrs. Callighan introduced herself, let Brooklynn pick out a cubbie and name tag and showed her around the classroom.

We heard from many other parents that love TCCP. So far our experience has exceeded all our expectations. Brooklynn is very excited about tomorrow.

Brooklynn Starts AWANA

Brooklynn started going to AWANA at the beginning of this month. She loves being a Cubbie and having another opportunity to learn about God each week...well the snack and craft projects don't hurt! So far she has done great with learning her memory verses for the week. When we got to her first meeting we walked in and she said "bye Mom. See you later" and walked away....basically kicking me out. I'm pretty sure I was the only Mom to get kicked out of the Cubbies room. We are super excited that Brooklynn is getting to attend AWANA and loving it.

Getting ready to walk into AWANA for the first time at Bible Baptist Church

So excited after her first Cubbies meeting

Her Cubbies vest and art project from her first meeting... a cubbie balloon

Zoo Trip 2011

We had a summer to do list that we hardly tackled. On the list was a trip to the zoo. This was an important one to me so I forced Todd to help me pack the kids up and plan a weekend trip to Grand Rapids. We had hopped for Binder Zoo this year but with the kids constantly getting sick and me not feeling well it was just not going to happen. Next year!!

Brooklynn and Emmett were very pleased with John Ball Zoo. It was probably the perfect option for the kids' age and me not feeling well.

A big thank you to the Beach family for putting us up (and putting up with us), taking us to your amazing chuch and the zoo.  We had a great time with your family!!

Brooklynn

Brooklynn and I have been making "candy" necklaces together all summer long. It's one of those great craft projects that her and I can do together...just the girls. Although, the first time she did make her napping brother a bracelet because she is just that sweet.

With Emmett needing extra attention (ie all of my attention) right now we played man-on-man with the kids this weekend. Todd took Emmett as much as he could and Brooklynn and I spent a lot of girl time together...shopping, reading, playing in her bedroom, taking baths together, special snacks for just us, movie with popcorn and M&M's, etc. Brooklynn also, got to go on two dates with her Auntie Jessi in the last week. The first time they went to Olive Garden for desserts and shopping. Then yesterday they went to see Lion King in 3D. Needless to say, Brooklynn had a blast both times. She looks forward to her monthly dates with her Auntie Jessi.  XOXO to Jessi!!

Also, in August we finally turned our light weights car seat around (You know she is now 24 pounds.. that's 4 pounds over the legal limit to be turned around). She never asked to be forward facing but I thought it would be nice if the kids could see each other in the car. So far its worked out nice. What I did not think about before hand was that Emmett naps a lot in the car and that's hard if he can see his sister. So sometimes I have to put a blanket up between the car seats just so he can nap when I need him to.





Here I asked her to give me "two thumbs up" but I only got "two" :)  Made me laugh anyway.



Here are a couple of pictures just because she is so darn cute. Plus this is another homemade dress she is in.

Random Summer Fun

Kids Film Festival Photos

in the castle with Audrey

bubbles with Audrey

Friday Night Live Photos

Brooklynn break dancing

Hoopercising with Daddy

Picnic at Great G&G Compton's house

Fair...